Dry chemical unit-fire truck

ABSTRACT

An appliance for safely and economically combating fires in oil fields, the appliance comprising a large container for holding dry chemical which is discharged at high pressure with a dry gas comprising nitrogen.

United States atent [191 Beckley 1 June 5, 1973 [54] DRY CHEMICAL UNIT-FIRE TRUCK [76] Inventor: William E. Beckley, 821 Fairwood Avenue, Marion, Ohio 43302 221 Filed: Sept. 17, 1971 211 Appl. No.: 181,365

52 us. c|.... ..l69/3l P [51] Int. Cl ..A62c 13/00 [58] Field of Search ..169/31 P, 31 R [56] References Cited UNITED STATES PATENTS 1,839,658 1/1932 Dugas ..l69/31 R 2,933,139 4/1960 ORear ..169/31 R X 2,432,146 12/1947 Farris et a1 ..l69/31 R X 2,459,743 1/1949 Trainer at al. ..169/31 R 2,832,425 4/1958 Jacobs 1 ..169/31 R 3,375,875 4/1968 Wesson ..l69/3l R X Primary ExaminerAllen N. Knowles Assistant Examiner-Gene A. Church [57] ABSTRACT An appliance for safely and economically combating fires in oil fields, the appliance comprising a large container for holding dry chemical which is discharged at high pressure with a dry gas comprising nitrogen.

1 Claim, 3 Drawing Figures Patented June 5, 1973 DRY CHEMICAL UNIT FIRE TRUCK This invention relates generally to fire fighting appliances.

A principal object of the present invention is to provide a safe and economical way for combatting oil field fires, and which has the advantage of being permitted to be vehicle mounted, and which does not have to be shaken or turned over so to operate.

Another object of the present invention is to provide a dry chemical unit which can be manufactured in any size ranging from 50 pounds up to 2,000 pounds or more, and which can be truck, trailer or motorized vehicle mounted for fast maneuverability from place of storage to a scene of a fire.

Yet another object of the present invention is to provide a dry chemical unit wherein the unit may be also mounted close to known trouble spots and piped to places where there are likely to be fires that would be hard or dangerous to approach.

Still another object of the present invention is to provide a dry chemical unit which manufactured in small units could be mounted on a cart or dolly so to be pulled or pushed to where it is needed.

Yet a further object of the present invention is to provide a dry chemical unit which is readily adaptable for use by every fire department, particularly fire departments in areas having large petroleum or other flamable products in use or in storage.

Still a further object of the present invention is to provide a dry chemical unit which would be particularly advantageous to be possessed by all refineries and natural gas processing plants, as well as oil drilling rigging outfits, oil tankers, loading docks and aircraft carners.

Other objects of the present invention are to provide a dry chemical unit which is simple in design, inexpen sive to manufacture, rugged in construction, easy'to use and efficient in operation.

These and other objects will become readily evident upon a study of the following specification together with the accompanying drawing wherein:

FIG. 1 is a plan view of the present invention;

FIG. 2 is a side cross-sectional view thereof; and

FIG. 3 is an enlarged fragmentary view of a modified fitting within the interior of the tank.

Referring now to the drawing in detail, and more particularly at this time to FIGS. 1 and 2 thereof, the reference numeral represents a dry chemical unit, according to the present invention, wherein there is a cylindrical body 11 comprised of pipe material of relatively large diameter, one end of the pipe 11 having a hemispherical head 12 secured thereto, while the opposite end of the cylindrical pipe body 11 has a hemispherical head 13 secured thereto.

A common cap with screw threads 14 is mounted over the upper end of the head 12, the cap being surmounted by a pressure gauge 15, as indicated in the drawing. The cap 14 on top of the head 12 has a coarse thread so to form a fast closure for filling of the container.

A forged steel coupling 16 is connected to one end of the pipe 17, the opposite end of the pipe being connected to a 90 weld ell fitting 18, the opposite end of the ell fitting 18 being connected to a vertical pipe 19, the lower terminal end of the pipe 19 having an end fitting 20 of spherical character and having a plurality of small openings 21 driven therethrough so to serve as inlets for nitrogen therethrough.

Another coupling 22 is connected at one end of a conduit bend 23, the opposite end of the conduit member 23 being connected to a pipe 24 extending vertically adjacent to pipe 19, as shown in FIG. 2 of the drawing.

It is of course understood that the couplings 16 and 22 extend through the cylindrical wall of the pipe 1 1 so to provide access to the interior of the container.

A brace 25 around the lower portion of the container serves to support the same and to prevent vibration thereof.

The openings 21 in the end fitting 20 in the inlet pipe 19 are for the purpose of stirring dry powder, and the pressure inside the container holds the powder down to be picked up by the outlet pipe 24. Accordingly the lower end of the pipe 24 is open.

In operative use, in one example, there may be two containers on a truck which may comprise a fire truck or the like. Each container has two cylinders of nitrogen having approximately 500 cubic feet per container to discharge the 700 pounds of powder. These containers are regulated to operate at 400 pounds pressure. A by-pass valve may be used to bleed pressure from the containers. This pressure is used to clean excess powder from the hose which prevents clogging. Another by-pass valve may be used to transfer nitrogen to the other container when the first container is out'of powder. For large oil field fires, actual experience has shown that both containers were most effectively used at the same time. Each container has its own hose and nozzle.

Thus there has been provided a dry chemical unit for safely and economically combatting oil field fires and the like, and wherein there is a large container for holding dry chemical which is discharged at high pressure with a dry gas that comprises nitrogen or the like.

Referring now to FIG. 3 of the drawing, there is shown a slightly modified design of fitting 21 which incorporates the above described features and which additionally includes a dispersing fan 26 mounted rotatably free on a projecting pin 27 secured to the fitting 21. The fan 26 includes a plurality of blades 28 which extend arcuately around the lower hemispherical side of the fitting 21, it being noted that the fan includes a pair of blades on one side which are spaced radially apart a different distance from a center of the fitting 21, while upon the opposite side the fan includes a singular blade that is located at a radial distance from the center of the fitting 21 and which distance is equidistance between the distances of the other blades respective to the center of the fitting. The last said blade is also substantially wider so that it has an effective blade area that is equivalent to the other two blades on the opposite side of the fan. Thus there is provided a modified fitting 21.

What I now claim is:

1. In a dry chemical unit, the combination of a container, said container having a means for admittance of dry gas into said container, said dry gas comprising nitrogen, and said container having self-contained means whereby dry chemical contained within said container is discharged outwardly of said container at high pressure for admittance of said dry gas comprising nitrogen, said container comprising a cylindrical central body comprised of pipe material, one end of said cylindrical body having a hemispherical head secured thereto, the opposite end of said cylindrical body being connected to a second hemispherical head, the upper end of the first said hemispherical head being surmounted by a common cap with screw threads which is surmounted by a pressure gauge, a nitrogen gas being admitted into said container by an inlet pipe assembly,'said inlet pipe assembly comprising a coupling extending outwardly of said container, one end of said coupling being connected to a horizontal pipe, the opposite end of said horizontal pipe being connected to a 90 weld ell fitting which at its opposite end is connected to a vertically extending pipe, said vertically extending pipe having a fitting in the lower end thereof, said fitting at the terminal lower end thereof having a plurality of openings therethrough, and through which said dry nitrogen gas is discharged into said tank or container, said fitting supporting a dispersing fan therebetween and an inner side of said second hemispherical head, an outlet pipe assembly comprising a coupling extending outward of said container, one end of said coupling being connected to a conduit bend member which at its opposite end is connected to a vertically extending pipe,

said vertically extending pipe having a lower end that is open so to admit said dry chemical to enter the lower end of said pipe and being discharged outwardly of said container, said dry chemical unit able to be wheelmounted and being caterpillar track fitted for movement over a rough terrain. 

1. In a dry chemical unit, the combination of a container, said container having a means for admittance of dry gas into said container, said dry gas comprising nitrogen, and said container having self-contained means whereby dry chemical contained within said container is discharged outwardly of said container at high pressure for admittance of said dry gas comprising nitrogen, said container comprising a cylindrical central body comprised of pipe material, one end of said cylindrical body having a hemispherical head secured thereto, the opposite end of said cylindrical body being connected to a second hemispherical head, the upper end of the first said hemispherical head being surmounted by a common cap with screw threads which is surmounted by a pressure gauge, a nitrogen gas being admitted into said container by an inlet pipe assembly, said inlet pipe assembly comprising a coupling extending outwardly of said container, one end of said coupling being connected to a horizontal pipe, the opposite end of said horizontal pipe being connected to A 90* weld ell fitting which at its opposite end is connected to a vertically extending pipe, said vertically extending pipe having a fitting in the lower end thereof, said fitting at the terminal lower end thereof having a plurality of openings therethrough, and through which said dry nitrogen gas is discharged into said tank or container, said fitting supporting a dispersing fan therebetween and an inner side of said second hemispherical head, an outlet pipe assembly comprising a coupling extending outward of said container, one end of said coupling being connected to a 90* conduit bend member which at its opposite end is connected to a vertically extending pipe, said vertically extending pipe having a lower end that is open so to admit said dry chemical to enter the lower end of said pipe and being discharged outwardly of said container, said dry chemical unit able to be wheel-mounted and being caterpillar track fitted for movement over a rough terrain. 